Ian Taylor

For all those of you, young and old, who have maths down as boring, irrelevant and hard, we would like to introduce the antidote.

Ian Taylor has enjoyed a meteoric rise from his first teaching job in one of Middlesborough’s – ergo one of the UK’s – toughest schools to leading a team of 22 maths departments across a cluster of challenging schools via AST status and a growing reputation nationally for helping all teachers be even better at what they do.

Ian’s philosophy has four clear foundations:

To develop inspiring and effective lessons using a model of outstanding practice that is mapped very nicely thank you to the new OFSTED framework.

To ensure that children don’t just learn maths but that they learn maths - or whatever subject he is focusing on at the time – as well as developing lifelong transferable skills including such career enhancing attributes as leadership, communication and effective thinking.

To ensure that the maths department – and again, his philosophy, practice and systems are transferable to other departments too – develop as outstanding and innovative organisations in their own right, sustaining the ideas and input Ian shares with them and then moving on to grow and progress under their own steam.

And lastly, taking him right back to where he started, to prove to the world that numeracy can be an exciting, enjoyable, accessible, wonderful experience open to all learners.

On top of his highly innovative and successful work within schools he has also found time to write maths software and work nationally to share the four pillars of his work with colleagues from all sorts of schools and backgrounds.

So, if you are looking for a way of not only ensuring that your numeracy levels move in the right direction, but teaching and learning across the whole school get a welcome boost too, then you need look no further than one of Independent Thinking’s newest Associates.

Brand New Intensive Day Courses on The Maths Masterclass with Ian Taylor - for dates and how to book click here 

These are comments from teachers who have already experienced Ian's philosophy:

• The whole maths department agreed that it was a fantastic day, very motivational and informative. The department left the day with ideas about how to move the whole department forward but also practical ideas about improving their own classroom practice. Some SLT members sat in on the day and as a result, we are considering booking Ian to deliver a whole school inset on Teaching and Learning
• Can I just say a big thankyou again for the input into Maths. You have been inspirational to us and we value working with you and alongside you in the extreme
• Ian Taylor came to do an all day training session with us on numeracy.  It was a fantastic day and all staff involved found the areas covered by Ian really valuable. Ian spent a large amount of time with our numeracy coordinator and has inspired her to start work on a whole school programme. Thanks once again for sending us Ian!
• Ian's background in difficult schools commands immediate respect without being overstated.  His obvious joy in teaching is very infectious and hopefully stimulates anyone feeling jaded
• Excellent.  Made me go back to my classroom and change it.  Also reinforced that I was in the right job
• A very enthusiastic presentation delivered with belief and conviction.  Ian Taylor was easy to listen to and ideas were demonstrated convincingly
• Inspirational - gave me a bit of a kick in the bum to review my teaching styles - felt they needed a bit of an MOT!  Very interesting session led by a very motivational practitioner
• Informative, inspirational and practical advice.  Using some ideas already
• Excellent practical ideas, great technology links and Ofsted compliant
• Really good ideas, very inspirational.  Agree with him that if you have 'systems' in place and students aware of the procedures then it is possible to maintain the lesson model
• Inspirational and encouraging - suggested some very practical ideas that I have used already. He was very 'down to earth' and did  not feel 'preached to'
• I've discovered maths is actually really cool
• We want more please ASAP - good - well impressed
• It was really refreshing to hear you speak with such passion and energy about teaching
• There are times when we just need to be reminded, rekindled, rejuvenated back into what we love....teaching

So, why not book Ian for an Event with your staff, students, parents or governors (Ian delivers Events for primary and secondary education).

People who have benefited from Ian have also enjoyed David Miller.

For more information about how Ian can help you help the learners develop these skills please e-mail us on learn@independentthinking.co.uk or call us 0844 589 0490.

Ian's CRB number is 001309007345 issued 19th January 2011.

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